Ed Koch, the former New York City mayor famous for his line “How am I doin’?”, is doin’ just fine after activating his Life Alert medical alarm by mistake. Although it was a false alarm, Life Alert sent help quickly. “To the consternation of my enemies, I’m still alive,” he told the New York Daily News. New York magazine praised the Life Alert service, saying that “real people use it, and it totally works.”
(August 7, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA) Life Alert Emergency Response, famous for protecting its members round the clock, works just as hard to protect its members’ personal data. Life Alert’s nationwide subscriber base includes celebrities and high profile people, who trust Life Alert to maintain their privacy and keep their information secure, as the company does for all of its members. Life Alert does not divulge incidents to the media or to its employees -- one of the reasons why thousands of people, famous or not, rely on the company’s 24/7 protection.
However, the media sometimes finds out about incidents involving Life Alert members from other sources. This week, the New York Daily News reported that former New York City Mayor and Life Alert member Ed Koch “set off an emergency scare … when he accidentally triggered his Life Alert pendant.” The incident occurred August 4 just after 11pm. The paper’s website said Koch “was asleep in his Greenwich Village apartment when he accidentally set off” his help button. When a Life Alert member’s button is activated, a dispatcher attempts to talk with the subscriber over their Life Alert unit or their phone. If no contact can be made, the dispatcher sends help automatically, as was done for Mr. Koch.
Life Alert not only sent help to the ex-Mayor, but also contacted one of his relatives and his doorman in order to alert them of Koch’s situation. Contacting friends, family and neighbors is one of Life Alert’s many advantages over calling 911 directly.
Fire personnel and an emergency medical team quickly showed up at Mr. Koch’s building. The doorman informed them that Mr. Koch was fine and the situation was a false alarm. Still, a final step was needed to make sure Life Alert’s member was safe. "They said, 'We gotta check it.' So they came upstairs and they saw me in the flesh, literally," said Koch, laughing. "I thanked them and they went back to the station."
Fortunately, the ex-Mayor -- famous for his trademark line “How am I doin’?” -- was doin’ just fine. "To the consternation of my enemies, I'm still alive," Koch told the Daily News. But New York magazine saw the bigger picture, pointing out that “to the consternation of all those punk kids out there who grew up making fun of Life Alert, real people use it, and it totally works.”
About Life Alert
Life Alert is a Personal Emergency Response company that saves lives from catastrophic outcomes, using a unique technology to provide superior home monitoring and protection. Founded in 1987, the medical alarm company provides its service to members nationwide, and is the only company endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. Life Alert handles over a million calls a year, and on average saves a life every 38 minutes (saving over 13,000 lives in 2007). The company’s home-based protection enables seniors to keep living at home with independence and comfort.
While Life Alert has primarily been servicing members in the elderly age range for the past two decades, younger seniors and Boomers are signing up in greater numbers, since they too can benefit from the company’s protection against emergencies. The company has also received renewed media attention as it enters its third decade. “The Martha Stewart Show” featured and recommended Life Alert in January 2008, and in 2007 USA TODAY ranked Life Alert’s famous slogan “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!®” Number One on its list of “ads we can’t get out of our heads” from the past 25 years. For more information on Life Alert, call 1-800-338-9090 or visit www.lifealert.com.
Contact for Life Alert:
Dr. Don Rose
Head of Public Relations
Life Alert Emergency Response
818-700-7000 x103
drose@lifealert.com
Showing posts with label celebrities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrities. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
BARBARA HILLARY, FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO REACH NORTH POLE, BECOMES LIFE ALERT MEMBER
The nationwide medical alarm company shows growing appeal among active seniors like Ms. Hillary. Since emergencies in the home can happen to anyone, regardless of age or physical condition, healthy active seniors are signing up for Life Alert in greater numbers. All Life Alert members, from younger seniors to Boomers and the elderly, enjoy the peace of mind afforded by the company’s 24/7 emergency response protection.
(July 31, 2008 - Encino, CA) Featured on ABC News, Good Morning America and CNN.com, as well as in the Boston Globe and the New Yorker, Barbara Hillary has been encouraging everyone to live life to the fullest after she became the first African-American woman on record to ski to the North Pole. Ms. Hillary, who displayed tremendous endurance skills and courage in completing her trek, became a member of Life Alert after her perilous journey ended and she returned to her home in New York. The fact that someone as healthy and energetic as Ms. Hillary, 75, adopted Life Alert’s emergency response service illustrates that both active seniors and the elderly benefit from the service. Life Alert members enjoy a superior level of protection at home, which also gives them (and their families) increased peace of mind.
Ms. Hillary told Life Alert that her experience with the service thus far has been exemplary. Life Alert’s professional installer “was well-groomed, pleasant, and punctual,” she said, and she was very happy with how he answered all of her questions, explaining things without rushing her. Barbara feels more comfortable now that she has Life Alert, a feeling that began when the installer talked with Life Alert’s dispatcher during the setup process. “When I heard the voice and the quick response, I liked that,” Ms. Hillary said. “When you go to the North Pole, you always have a backup system, such as instant hand heaters and so on. Life Alert is like a backup system for my home. People prepare for other things, like having candles for lighting and heat, so why not prepare for personal emergencies?”
As for Life Alert’s equipment, Barbara was very impressed with the technology. “When it comes down to it,” she said, “you have to take the steps to protect yourself. Certain supportive systems are necessary. Even for younger persons this is important. For example, I heard about a stroke victim around 27 years old who needs Life Alert. This is not a device just for old people.” Ms. Hillary also pointed out that “aging is being redefined. What was considered old 20 years ago is no longer considered old. We must constantly rethink and reanalyze the statistics.”
Barbara is currently preparing for her next adventure - a trip to the South Pole - and Life Alert will be protecting her at home as she prepares for the journey. “We are very pleased to welcome Barbara Hillary into the Life Alert family,” said Isaac Shepher, Life Alert’s founder and CEO. “Her trek to the North Pole was an amazing achievement, and we wish her well on her upcoming South Pole expedition. Since Ms. Hillary has faced extreme danger and is an expert on proper outdoor protection, we are proud that she has chosen Life Alert to protect her indoors.”
About Life Alert
Life Alert is a Personal Emergency Response company that saves lives from catastrophic outcomes, using a unique technology to provide superior home monitoring and protection. Founded in 1987, the medical alarm company provides its service to members nationwide, and is the only company endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. Life Alert handles over a million calls a year, and on average saves a life every 38 minutes (saving over 13,000 lives in 2007). The company’s home-based protection enables seniors to keep living at home with independence and comfort.
While Life Alert has primarily been servicing members in the elderly age range for the past two decades, younger seniors and Boomers are signing up in greater numbers, since they too can benefit from the company’s protection against emergencies. The company has also received renewed media attention as it enters its third decade. “The Martha Stewart Show” featured and recommended Life Alert in January 2008, and in 2007 USA TODAY ranked Life Alert’s famous slogan “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!®” Number One on its list of “ads we can’t get out of our heads” from the past 25 years. For more information on Life Alert, call 1-800-338-9090 or visit www.lifealert.com.
About Barbara Hillary
Barbara Hillary became the first African-American woman on record to reach the North Pole on skis on April 23, 2007. She is also a nurse, a cancer survivor, an advocate for senior and minority health, and a motivational speaker. Ms. Hillary is planning and training for her upcoming trek to the South Pole, scheduled for late 2008. For more information on this extraordinary woman, visit www.barbarahillary.com. You can also see Barbara on CNN.com, where an interview with her is currently featured.
Contact for Life Alert:
Dr. Don Rose
Head of Public Relations
Life Alert Emergency Response
818-700-7000 x103 drose@lifealert.com
Contact for Barbara Hillary:
Cliff Love (Manager)
clove@nyc.rr.com
917-940-0976
(July 31, 2008 - Encino, CA) Featured on ABC News, Good Morning America and CNN.com, as well as in the Boston Globe and the New Yorker, Barbara Hillary has been encouraging everyone to live life to the fullest after she became the first African-American woman on record to ski to the North Pole. Ms. Hillary, who displayed tremendous endurance skills and courage in completing her trek, became a member of Life Alert after her perilous journey ended and she returned to her home in New York. The fact that someone as healthy and energetic as Ms. Hillary, 75, adopted Life Alert’s emergency response service illustrates that both active seniors and the elderly benefit from the service. Life Alert members enjoy a superior level of protection at home, which also gives them (and their families) increased peace of mind.
Ms. Hillary told Life Alert that her experience with the service thus far has been exemplary. Life Alert’s professional installer “was well-groomed, pleasant, and punctual,” she said, and she was very happy with how he answered all of her questions, explaining things without rushing her. Barbara feels more comfortable now that she has Life Alert, a feeling that began when the installer talked with Life Alert’s dispatcher during the setup process. “When I heard the voice and the quick response, I liked that,” Ms. Hillary said. “When you go to the North Pole, you always have a backup system, such as instant hand heaters and so on. Life Alert is like a backup system for my home. People prepare for other things, like having candles for lighting and heat, so why not prepare for personal emergencies?”
As for Life Alert’s equipment, Barbara was very impressed with the technology. “When it comes down to it,” she said, “you have to take the steps to protect yourself. Certain supportive systems are necessary. Even for younger persons this is important. For example, I heard about a stroke victim around 27 years old who needs Life Alert. This is not a device just for old people.” Ms. Hillary also pointed out that “aging is being redefined. What was considered old 20 years ago is no longer considered old. We must constantly rethink and reanalyze the statistics.”
Barbara is currently preparing for her next adventure - a trip to the South Pole - and Life Alert will be protecting her at home as she prepares for the journey. “We are very pleased to welcome Barbara Hillary into the Life Alert family,” said Isaac Shepher, Life Alert’s founder and CEO. “Her trek to the North Pole was an amazing achievement, and we wish her well on her upcoming South Pole expedition. Since Ms. Hillary has faced extreme danger and is an expert on proper outdoor protection, we are proud that she has chosen Life Alert to protect her indoors.”
About Life Alert
Life Alert is a Personal Emergency Response company that saves lives from catastrophic outcomes, using a unique technology to provide superior home monitoring and protection. Founded in 1987, the medical alarm company provides its service to members nationwide, and is the only company endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. Life Alert handles over a million calls a year, and on average saves a life every 38 minutes (saving over 13,000 lives in 2007). The company’s home-based protection enables seniors to keep living at home with independence and comfort.
While Life Alert has primarily been servicing members in the elderly age range for the past two decades, younger seniors and Boomers are signing up in greater numbers, since they too can benefit from the company’s protection against emergencies. The company has also received renewed media attention as it enters its third decade. “The Martha Stewart Show” featured and recommended Life Alert in January 2008, and in 2007 USA TODAY ranked Life Alert’s famous slogan “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!®” Number One on its list of “ads we can’t get out of our heads” from the past 25 years. For more information on Life Alert, call 1-800-338-9090 or visit www.lifealert.com.
About Barbara Hillary
Barbara Hillary became the first African-American woman on record to reach the North Pole on skis on April 23, 2007. She is also a nurse, a cancer survivor, an advocate for senior and minority health, and a motivational speaker. Ms. Hillary is planning and training for her upcoming trek to the South Pole, scheduled for late 2008. For more information on this extraordinary woman, visit www.barbarahillary.com. You can also see Barbara on CNN.com, where an interview with her is currently featured.
Contact for Life Alert:
Dr. Don Rose
Head of Public Relations
Life Alert Emergency Response
818-700-7000 x103 drose@lifealert.com
Contact for Barbara Hillary:
Cliff Love (Manager)
clove@nyc.rr.com
917-940-0976
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